I kicked off my shoes and stripped down to my thong and bra once we made it into my room. As Pam dutifully unpacked my bags and began to organize everything in my drawers and in the bathroom I smiled at my room, The Playpen Suite equipped with one stripper pole. It was worth the two thousands dollars a night for five nights. Do the math. If I�m putting out that kind of cash I�m going to have a great time, a memorable time. If I don�t I�m going to kill someone. The Palms isn�t the most luxurious hotel in Vegas but it was a hip atmosphere full of people who were gorgeous and didn�t take the world so seriously. Just themselves and their desire to be fabulous and trendy. I can live with that. Besides, the bathrooms were huge.
I wouldn�t have to venture far to have a good time. This was the home of Rain and Ghost Bar, two celebrity-hopping clubs that were all the rage (at the moment). Tonight those clubs wouldn�t be graced with my presence. I�m going somewhere to find someone who knows how to use that pole.
I could hear water running and looked around to see Pam had disappeared into the bathroom to prepare my bath. Baths are my savior sometimes. Sitting in water so hot its hardly bearable made me feel like I was turning into a new person.
There was a new person in my life, my love life, according to the media. None other than Nick�s friend, AJ. Apparently, KTLA was at the Staples Center the night Sarah and I visited Nick. The correspondent, off camera, told me the clip revealed me, followed by Sarah, walking into his dressing room. It�s amazing that every man I�m within five feet of is rumored to have fucked me. Although, usually every man I�m that close to has had the pleasure. But the key phrase is �every good looking man� and it has to be said AJ isn�t good looking. I�m not twelve. I find his weird facial hair and hair color repulsive and feminine, not a true testament to individuality and style. Of all the guys to be with, this was truly not one of them. I couldn�t pose for pictures on red carpet standing in his arms.
Pam walked out of the bathroom,
�Your bath is ready.� She walked further into the room, �Is there anywhere specific you would like to eat? Room service?� This was the question that required the most thought from me all day,
�Room service. I want to soak in the tub and lie down before the party. In fact, �I tossed my hand at her, �Look for my pills in my bag, They�re somewhere in there. I�ll need a little help getting to sleep.� Before completing the task I asked for the holy folder.
As I soaked in the bath I looked through the folder at the press over the past week. To add credibility to the AJ story, an unnamed source, have to love them, stated he showed up at my LA photo shoot. As soon as he arrived, I dashed off to my dressing room and disappeared for a long time keeping the photographer and crew waiting. There was no mention of Nick being there. This bit of information, along with my backstage encounter, ran in the LA Times as well. I�ve learned over the years two things about the gossip media. They don�t check their stories and there is always some truth to every story. Even when there isn�t a story they will make one. They make the mos`t boring mundane things an adventure, something intriguing.
I�ve given the gossip hounds a couple of ways to hook me up with a Backstreet Boy and they managed to screw it up. I�m friends with Nick, I fucked Kevin and they have me dating AJ. Amazing. I was also in a small article about celebrities who owned Oliver Peoples sunglasses. I was in one of the pictures that went along with the article. It was when I was shopping in LA with Sarah looking very rich with my shopping bags. Under the picture they made sure to mention my bags were from Bijan, the world of two hundred socks, and that my four hundred dollar Oliver Peoples were the cheapest thing I had on. I so hate when they say cheap. It fucking devalues. The word was inexpensive. I can say without a doubt what is cheap, and that�s the publicity in this folder. It�s boring and it�s not the press someone who is on their way should be getting. Its small potatoes.
***
Las Vegas always attract the party goers but Las Vegas plus red carpet, cameras and a party was asking for a who�s who from LA to NY and everywhere in between. The line to walk the red carpet was backed up for what seemed like an eternity. And this was all for the pre party there was another walk of fame to be graced tomorrow night for the actual event. It pre-party was hosted by VH1 and In Style magazine.
�You look great tonight.� I turned and frowned at Pam,
�As opposed to what? I look like shit every other night?� The question wasn�t rhetorical as she probably assumed so she remained quiet. It was a question that I expected an answer if for no other reason than to give her a hard time. She and Cori, need to be put in check. �Well, are you not paying attention to me or are you just ignoring me?� The look on Marti�s face was half amusement and part embarrassment. Pam stuttered,
�Uh, no.�
�No what? No you aren�t ignoring me or you aren�t paying attention?� It was a question she couldn�t answer.
�I meant no you don�t look like shit every night?� I snorted,
�So what? Not every night, just some nights?� She was saved by the bell literally. She was one answer from being fired right on the spot. Just because I felt like being difficult. I flipped open my phone,
�Yes?� I waved Pam off with my hand and rolled my eyes.
�Hello darling?� I haven�t heard that Barbara Walters like accent in a long time,
�Juliana, how are you?� Not since she completely disrespected Steven and me when we were in LA have we talked. She didn�t just anger me, she hurt me. No one wants to hear someone bad mouth the man they love. It�s ok for me to rip into Steven. I�m frustrated by him. I�m hurt by him. But more than anything I love him even more than I dislike him. He has given me so much. I don�t know why no one else can see that. Why no one can understand that.
�I�m wonderful darling. Look, are we ok?� She couldn�t say she was sorry. I understood that. Because sorry doesn�t come out of my mouth either. I think the only people who have received those words from me were men. Men in authority. Men who held my future in their hands.
�Yes, we�re fine. As long as that particular subject matter is no longer discussed.�
�No problem there. A piece is going to run in a magazine next week about you refusing to work with PETA.� PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wanted to do an updated version of their model campaign. Years ago Naomi, Christy Turlington and other top models were in a poster stating they�d rather go nude than wear fur. They signed contracts and refused to wear fur on the runway or ad campaigns as well. I declined the offer simply because I didn�t want to be apart of something so political. I�m a model. My feelings about most things remain neutral. It�s better for my career and its better for those who I work for if I don�t alienate anyone. Take everyone�s money.
�I said no because its my choice. I�m not some asshole.� Pam shifted in her seat,
�At least not because I choose not to do what they want me to do.�
�Don�t worry about it. Everyone who isn�t a member of PETA knows they are overzealous bullies.� They picked the wrong person if they thought I was going to be pushed around.
Chapter 114
Stranger Than Fiction
Stories
Feedback